ATLANTA GA - 4/20/2023 – Today, we announced the general availability of Chat EQ in Beta, an application that helps people develop conflict resolution skills they need to handle conflict in their personal and professional lives. While most people avoid hard conversations for fear of getting hurt, being rejected, or feeling uncomfortable, Chat EQ draws upon decades of research to give people the conflict resolution skills they can use to help esolve difficult issues before they escalate.
With the erosion of company culture due to remote work, organizations are seeing the value of helping employees develop conflict management skills. In 2021, employees of US based companies spent approximately 2.8 hours each week involved in conflict, amounting to $359 billion in lost productivity. 60% of these employees never received basic conflict management training, while 95% of employees that did said that it helped them navigate conflict positively and reach mutually beneficial outcomes.
Conflict management skills are also important at home. During the pandemic, the United Nations reported a “shadow pandemic” of domestic violence across the 13 nations they studied, with domestic violence cases increasing 25 to 33 percent globally. In the United States, the American Journal of Emergency Medicine reported alarming trends in U.S. domestic violence and the National Domestic Violence Hotline received more than 74,000 calls, chats, and texts in February 2021, the highest monthly contact volume of its 25-year history.
Though demand for help is on the rise, most countries have a shortage of trained professionals. In the United States alone, more than 150 million people live in federally designated mental health professional shortage areas. Within a few years, the US is projected to be short between 14,280 and 31,109 psychiatrists, and experts say that psychologists, social workers, and others will also be overextended.
“We’ve seen that technology can give people some basic tools they need to resolve conflict in their personal and professional lives”, said Michael Connor, founder of ChatEQ. “While we don’t expect technology to replace trained professionals, Chat EQ is a scalable way to give people research supported assistance to help them work through conflict in real-time, day or night, when a professional may be difficult to reach. The app makes it easy to use natural language to share what’s happening and get feedback that can help them talk through the issue to resolve conflict.”
Chat EQ works by using an artificial intelligence (AI) that was trained using decades of proven research around conflict resolution. The application gives users feedback to let them know that it understands their issue, it provides in-depth insights into how they’re feeling physically and emotionally, and then suggests conversations that might help resolve the conflict. The recommendations are designed to help people reach mutually beneficial outcomes while avoiding common pitfalls that can lead to escalation.
“Chat EQ has been a great tool for me”, said Skylar Mills of Atlanta Georgia. “I woke up at 2am a few nights ago and was panicking about an issue I had with someone at work. I grabbed my phone and the app helped me understand what I was feeling and talked me through a conversation that I could have with my co-worker. I was able to get back to sleep and had a great talk with my co-worker the next day. Since I’ve been using the app, I’ve become more comfortable having hard conversations so I don’t need the app as much as I used to.”
Those interested in trying Chat EQ can visit the web site @ ChatEQ.com.
This tool is based on the research around Compassionate Communication. Compassionate Communication was developed by clinical psychologist and peacemaker Marshall Rosenberg in the 1960s. It is a process for communicating with others in a way that considers the needs of both parties and avoids blame and criticism. It is a way of expressing thoughts and feelings without judgement or manipulation. The goal of Compassionate Communication is to foster understanding and cooperation between people.
Compassionate Communication presents an approach to communication that is highly effective in reducing conflict and improving relationships but there is a steep learning curve. The goal of this tool is to give everyone in the world access to the benefits of Compassionate Communication without the years of self study and practice sometimes required. We don't believe this app takes the place of study and practice, but this app can act as a gentle introduction to Compassionate Communication or as an easy-to-use tool to help people refresh existing skills.
Research shows that Compassionate Communication has many benefits. It can lead to greater understanding and empathy, improved relationships, and increased cooperation. Studies have also found that it can reduce stress and anxiety and improve mental health. It can also help to reduce conflict and violence in interpersonal relationships. Additionally, it can help to create an environment of mutual respect and understanding, which can lead to increased levels of trust and collaboration.
Conflict Resolution
Personal Relationships
Parenting and Families
Education and Schools
Personal Growth and Healing
Organizational Effectiveness
Anger Management
Business Relationships
Spirituality